Car Cooling Device, System and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

The invention is a device, system and method of use for cooling the temperature in the passenger compartment of a vehicle without the need for a power source or moving parts, thus allowing the device to operate when the vehicle engine is turned off.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/936,067, filed Jul. 22, 2020, thence to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 16/687,247, filed on Nov. 18, 2019, and thence to provisional patentapplication 62/884,751, filed on Aug. 9, 2019.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

No federal government funds were used in researching or developing thisinvention.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING INCLUDED AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The invention is a device and system for cooling the interiortemperature of a vehicle without requiring a power source or movingparts, as well as a method of using such device.

Background of the Invention

Air conditioning and interior temperature cooling for passenger vehicleshave been known for decades. In particular, the use of auto airconditioners requiring electric compressors, fans and the use of freonor similar coolant began to be offered as options in passenger car salesin the mid-twentieth century and such systems continue to this day.

Aside from lowering the gas mileage and available engine power in arunning automobile, current auto air conditioning also fails to provideany cooling to the passenger compartment of a vehicle once the engine isturned off.

Known devices for cooling passenger compartments with the engine offtypically rely upon powered exhaust fans removing heated interior airthrough cracked vehicle windows. Such fans rely upon a power source, beit battery-operated, solar or otherwise.

What is needed is an affordable, non-powered type of cooling device foruse inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Such a device wouldcomprise few or no moving parts and no requirements for electrical orother outside power, and thus be capable of operating regardless ofwhether the vehicle engine is on. Such a device is described hereinbelow, along with a method of use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, a cooling device, comprising one or morefunnel units, each such funnel unit comprising a small opening and alarge opening, wherein the large opening faces downward and the smallopening faces upward, each funnel comprising adhesive on an externaledge of the large opening, whereby each funnel unit is adhered to avertical surface.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooling device as described herein,wherein the vertical surface provides an angle between 45 and 90 degreesrelative to the ground and the angle of all attached funnel unitsmatches the angle of the vertical surface.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooling device as described herein,further comprising a plurality of high heat capacitance units attachedto the inside face of the large opening.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooling device as described herein,wherein the funnel unit is bottle-shaped, comprising a small opening anda large opening attached to a cylindrical lip, wherein the large openingfaces downward and the small opening faces upward, and each funnel unitlip is adhered to a vertical surface.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooling device as described herein,wherein each funnel unit is funnel-shaped and comprises a cylindricallip attached to the large opening.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooling device as described herein,wherein each funnel unit is covered in dark material.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooling device as described herein,wherein the adhesive is from the group consisting of glue, epoxy,adhesive tape or other means, as well as hook-and-loop fabric.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooling device as described herein,wherein each funnel unit is adhered to a base, which base is thenceadhered to the vertical surface.

In another preferred embodiment, a cooling system comprising one or morefunnel units, each either funnel-shaped or bottle-shaped and eachcomprising a small opening and a large opening, wherein the largeopening faces downward and the small opening faces upward, wherein eachof the one or more funnel units are adhered to a vertical surface withinthe interior of a vehicle.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooling system as described herein,further comprising wherein the one or more funnel units are adhered to abase with adhesive located at an external edge of the large opening, andsuch base is then adhered to the vertical surface.

1 In another preferred embodiment, the cooling system as describedherein, wherein the funnel units are arranged in a pattern taken fromthe group consisting of side-to-side or a staggered grid.

In another preferred embodiment, the cooling system as described herein,further comprising one or more neoprene sleeves, wherein three to sevenfunnel units are inserted into each such sleeve and each sleevecomprises holes correlating to the diameters of each funnel unit's smallopening and large opening.

In another preferred embodiment, a method of cooling a vehicle interiorusing the cooling system as described herein, wherein the one or morefunnel units are each adhered to a vertical surface in the interior of avehicle, and each such funnel unit continuously draws hot vehicleinterior air through the large opening, cools such air inside the funnelunit, then exhales cooled air through the small opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a line drawing evidencing a non-powered cooling device for avehicle interior comprising a funnel unit.

FIG. 2 is a line drawing evidencing an alternate embodiment of thedevice of FIG. 1, wherein a plurality of bottle-shaped funnel units areattached to a single base.

FIG. 3 is a line drawing evidencing an alternate embodiment of thedevice of FIG. 1, wherein a plurality of funnel units are bottle-shapedand each attached to a vertical or nearly vertical surface.

FIG. 4 is a line drawing evidencing a cutaway view of the funnel unit aspictured in FIG. 3, such unit sheathed in a dark cover.

FIG. 5 is a line drawing evidencing a funnel unit comprising an adhesivealong an edge of its larger opening for vertical application.

FIG. 6 is a line drawing evidencing funnel units adhered to a base andthence to a vertical surface.

FIG. 7 is a line drawing evidencing a funnel unit with a lip comprisingan adhesive and mounted on a vertical surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention constitutes a system made up of one or more individualfunnel-shaped cooling units of varying sizes that can be placed on bothhorizontal and vertical surfaces of a vehicle interior, with largeopenings facing down and small openings facing up. The larger systemworks best when individual units are positioned in areas of the vehiclecabin that are known to warm rapidly under radiant heat. In a preferredembodiment, each such funnel unit will be placed using a semi-permanentadhesive allowing it to be removed or relocated at will. In an alternateembodiment, the funnel unit comprises a bottle shape, with a largerbarrel aspect for the large opening and a bottle neck element for thesmall opening.

The large opening of each unit will comprise a series of interspersedspacers and air openings, such that the funnel unit will immediatelytrap the warm air below as it rises. According to the Venturi effect, aknown volume of air traversing through a progressively smallercross-sectional area must undergo compression and an increased flowrate. According to Bernoulli's principle, an increase in the flow rateof a fluid (e.g., air) must be accompanied by a decrease in the fluid'spotential energy, which results in decreased temperature. Thus, the airpassing through the funnel unit will be compressed and have its flowrate increased, such that the air exiting the unit through its uppersmall opening will be cooler than the air entering the lower largeopening. In an alternate embodiment, the larger opening may be anunbroken rim with air intake holes cut or drilled above such rim.

Depending on the thermodynamics of the adjacent environment, the airintaken and cooled will either descend or keep rising, albeit at aslower rate. Regardless of which direction the just cooled air moves, amicro convection current will occur in the adjacent area, which willcause additional cooling. This flow pattern is continuous while thedevice is in place and pulls more outside air into the large opening,thus working on a positive feedback basis to constantly draw air fromthe vehicle interior into the device.

To enhance the volume of warm air entering the large opening, one ormore high heat capacitance units will be arranged on the interiorsurface of a funnel unit at or near the large opening, which materialwill act as a capacitor in a standard air conditioner, without requiringa dedicated power source. This high heat capacitance material willassist in creating a heat sink and additional convection air currents todraw hot air into the funnel, thus further increasing the coolingefficiency of the unit.

To lessen reflection on the car windows after the units are placed inthe desired position, the funnels and bottle necks are sheathed in adark cover circumferentially extending into each orifice, and thenattached to the inside plastic wall. In a preferred embodiment, abottle-shaped funnel unit is surrounded by packing material such asfoam, synthetic fiber, natural fiber, etc. and then sheathed in a spongymaterial such as neoprene, which is sewn closed to form a log-likestructure. For the back of the front seats, each log will contain aplurality of such bottle-shaped funnel units, preferably five,positioned horizontally. Other such units may be placed two and threeacross and will have smaller openings In practice, each user will beable to mix and match funnel units according to given vehicle interiorconfiguration, positioning the units for best cooling effect. In analternate embodiment, a funnel unit may be totally coated in neoprene,inside and out, with the neoprene itself acting as a high heatcapacitance material.

Some dark covered funnel units will be sewn in a diagonal pattern suchthat the openings are still parallel to the car ceiling and floor. Eachsuch covered unit will have a cord with an adjustable feature that willallow it to be secured to a head rest or safety hand bar to prevent itfrom flying loose in the cabin in event that the adhesive fails. A clothstrip will be sewn into each dark cover to facilitate attaching thesafety cord from either end. Semi-permanent clear adhesive, preferablywith a peel off back, will be attached to each such covered funnel unitto allow for adhesion to a vertical surface. In one iteration, Velcrotape is used.

The funnel units to be seated on horizontal surfaces will befunnel-shaped and low profile so as not to obscure the driver's viewwhen seated on a dashboard. Multiple units may be set into a flexiblelattice that will allow it to be placed on the surface of the dashboardover the instrument panel and down each side. The openings in suchlattice base will allow the funnel unit to intake air without theincorporation of air openings in the funnel itself. Ideally, the latticebase will comprise neoprene or similar heat-resistant covers, therebyprotecting the funnel rim from the very hot dashboard or similarsurface, while also decreasing the temperature of air entering thefunnel. The funnels will also have multiple pieces of high heatcapacitance material adhered to the inner wall. In a preferredembodiment, such funnel units for horizontal placement also will becovered in a dark cover, but will lack the packaging material andneoprene components of the vertical units.

Funnel units will preferably be made of plastic of a type from the groupincluding, but not limited to, high-density polyethylene, low-densitypolyethylene, copolyester or polypropylene. Alternative materials mayinclude, glass, ceramic, or metal. The large openings of the funnel willbe approximately ⅛-½ of an inch, preferably ⅝ inches, off of the dashsurface and will spaced far enough apart that the sun's rayspredominantly hit the dashboard surface and not the device. Preferreddiameters for the large opening will be in the range of 2 inches to 4inches, and the small opening from ¼ inch to two inches, with apreferred range of ½ inch to 1 inch, although larger or smalleriterations are possible. The preferred ratio of large opening to smallopening is approximately 3:1.

The latticework base will be black in color, and preferablyneoprene-covered, and will be supported by rigid vertical struts so thatplacing an object on the structure will not deform or crush it. In oneembodiment, either the base unit is made of a high heat capacitancematerial such as wood or hemp, or high heat capacitance units will bearranged within the latticework of the base structure as well as withinthe funnel units themselves. Flexible strut connectors will be used toallow the base to overlay an irregular surface, such as the dashboard ofa vehicle over the instrument panel. Additional flexible connectors willconnect the upper portion of each strut to one or two funnel unitsinterspersed between the pairs of struts, such that the funnel unitswill hang over the dashboard without touching it, thereby preventing thefunnels from heating and related deformation. Rigid vertical struts maybe comprised of wood, metal, or any other material suitable forappropriate weight bearing. Flexible connectors may be comprised of hempor other flexible organic material, rubber, plastic, neoprene or otherfabric, or any other material with appropriate heat resistance andflexibility. Connectors running between a given pair of vertical strutsalong the dashboard may preferably be rigid as well, to assist inmaintaining verticality of the struts.

On both the funnel-shaped and bottle-shaped units, the smaller openingwill be rigid and non-compressible to ensure unimpeded air flow throughthe unit. In one embodiment, funnel units can be manufactured usingrecycled plastic water bottles that require no modification other thancutting them to size. To create the heat sink, balsa wood is a highlypreferred material, because of low cost, low weight, ease of cutting andfor its high heat capacitance properties. Alternative materials includebut are not limited to glass, hemp or other organic material, alternatetypes of wood, ceramic, plastic film, paper and mica.

Once the units are positioned, the system will work 24 hours a daywithout moving parts or an outside energy source. The more units placedin the car, the better the cooling capacity of the system. The unitsthemselves require no customization and can be installed in a fewminutes by just peeling off the adhesive, pressing them onto the cabininterior, and fastening the safety cord and tightening it. It should benoted that, while the cooling power of the disclosed device may be mostnoticeable after a period with the engine off, the system will stillwork even while the vehicle is operating, reducing the work required ofthe vehicle's air conditioner and the fuel required to operate suchsystem.

Example: During a 95 F sunny day (heat index 110) a Volvo SUV with darkupholstery was left for six hours with the doors and windows closed inthe sun, after which the interior temperature exceeded 170 degrees.Next, 30 bottle-shaped cooling units were attached to interior verticalsurfaces and 8 funnel-shaped units were attached to the front dashboard.With the cooling system in place, and without the introduction of anypower, the car's inside temperature after 6 hours registered about 120degrees. The cooling capacity will increase with the number of unitsplaced around the car. Extrapolating from the number of units used toestablish a 50 degree temperature drop, it would be possible to maintainan interior temperature within 20 degrees F. of the outside airtemperature in temperate zones.

It should be noted that any of the iterations disclosed herein may bereversed to accomplish a warming effect within a passenger compartment.

For the purposes of this application, the term “vertical” shall mean anysurface presenting an angle between 45 degrees and 90 degrees from levelor horizontal. Within the interior of a car, examples of verticalsurfaces may be any interior wall, a space between vehicle windowsand/or doors, interiors of side or rear doors, seat sides and backs,fronts or sides of dashboards and any other surface in the vehicleinterior meeting the angle definition.

Attachment of a device as described herein to a vertical surface may beaccomplished either by direct application of a funnel unit to thevertical surface, or by attachment of one or more such funnel units to abase, which base is then applied to such vertical surface. Onceattached, a vertically arranged funnel unit will have its large openingand small opening aligned so as to allow atmospheric air to enter thelarge opening at a lower level and escape the small opening at a higherlevel. While a 90 degree angle to the ground for such alignment ispreferred, it is not mandatory for operability. The actual angle ofoperation will usually match the angle of the vertical surface itself,whether such surface is perfectly vertical or not.

Funnel units for vertical attachment do not require the use of airopenings or spacers for introduction of atmospheric air into the funnel,since the large opening is not blocked by attachment to a surface. Themeans of attachment for funnel units onto vertical surfaces may be anyknown means of adhesion. For example, “adhesives” may include anycommercially available glue, epoxy, adhesive tape or other means, aswell as hook-and-loop fabric. In one embodiment, the adhesive will belocated at one or more points along the edge of the large opening of afunnel unit. Since each funnel unit will be of lightweight material, avery narrow application of adhesive along the edge will be sufficient toanchor the unit. In one such iteration, the adhesive may be ahook-and-loop tape, where one side of the tape is applied to the edge ofthe funnel's large opening and the other side is applied to the base orvertical surface.

The adhesive on a large opening edge may then be applied either to abase or directly to a vertical surface. When a base is used, the funnelunit will be adhered to a front side of such base, which a secondadhesive will be applied to a back side of the base for attachment tothe surface. Depending on the size and shape of the base, a plethora offunnel units may be attached to a single base, and configured in anynumber of patterns, including but not limited to: side-by-side, a grid,diagonal, etc. A preferred configuration would avoid the exhalation froma lower funnel unit's small opening directly into the large opening ofanother funnel unit above.

In another embodiment, a cylindrical lip feature may be added to thelarge opening of a funnel unit, with such cylindrical lip extending awayfrom the body of the funnel unit. The lip in this iteration will providean extended flat surface on which to locate adhesive for attachment to abase or a vertical surface. In bottle-shaped funnel units such as, forexample funnels formed from the trimmed upper portion of plastic waterbottles, such lip will be integral to the design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a non-powered cooling device 1 for avehicle interior comprising a funnel unit 10 with a large opening 11 anda small opening 12. The pictured embodiment shows the cooling device ina low-profile configuration for use on a horizontal surface, such as adashboard. In FIG. 1, the large opening is facing downward and furthercomprises a series of spacers 30 interspaced with air openings 32,creating an air inflow mechanism, with the air thereafter passingthrough the funnel unit 10 and out of the small opening 12, with the airbeing compressed and cooled during such progression. This air movementresults in the creation of micro convection current and heat sink withinthe funnel unit 10, resulting in additional drawing of air into the airopenings 31. This process is further enhanced by the placement of highheat capacitance units 60, in this figure pictured as rectangularblocks, adhered to the inner wall 15 of the funnel unit 10 to act on theair as it passes.

The ends of one or more spacers 30 will also comprise an adhesive layer40 which will serve to attach the cooling device, either directly to thehorizontal surface within a vehicle or to a base (not pictured), whichbase can then be attached to such surface.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the device of FIG. 1, wherein aplurality of funnel units are attached to a single latticework base 20along the top of a vehicle dashboard. The base 20 comprises a pluralityof pairs of base struts 21 raised vertically from an auto dashboard,each such pair of struts connected by a rigid base connector 23. Eachpair of struts 21 is connected to one another by two or more of flexiblebase connectors 23 overlaying the dashboard, and each set of struts isfurther interspersed with and connected to funnel units 10 by aplurality of flexible base-funnel connectors 24, wherein such flexiblebase-funnel connectors adhered or tied to the top of each strut andaround each funnel unit. Thus, each funnel unit is allowed to hangfreely above the dashboard without touching it.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of cooling device 1, this timeconfigured for use on a vertical surface within a vehicle interior.Unlike the horizontal unit of FIG. 1, spacers and air openings areunnecessary in this iteration since the large opening 12 is notoverlaying a flat surface. In this embodiment, the funnel unit 10appears as a bottle shape with a neck 14 enclosing the small opening 12and a barrel 13 enclosing the large opening 11. As with the horizontalunit, the small opening 12 is pointed upward, and a plurality of highheat capacitance units 60 are adhered along the inner wall 15 of thefunnel unit 10. An adhesive strip 40 is used to attach each funnel unitto a vertical surface of the car interior, pictured in this figure asthe strut adjacent to a car door.

FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of the cooling device embodiment of FIG. 3,wherein the bottle-shaped funnel unit 10 is overlaid with a layer ofpacking material 70, and further overlaid by a dark cover 50, preferablyof neoprene material.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a funnel unit 10 with a point of adhesive 40located on an edge of the large opening 11, thereby allowing the funnelunit to be attached to a vertical surface (not pictured) directly or viaa base (not pictured).

FIG. 6 shows funnel units 10, each with a point of adhesive 40 locatedon an edge of the large opening 11, thereby adhered to a base 20 andthence to a vertical surface 80. Here, the vertical surface hereembodied as the back of a captain's chair seat and the base is embodiedas a rectangular strip of fabric. The funnel units are pictured as clearplastic with the adhesive 40 visible through the body of the funnel.

Also in FIG. 6, two separate bases are shown, with one evidencing aside-by-side configuration of the funnel units, while another shows a“staggered grid” configuration, wherein the funnel units are arrangedvertically, but are staggered so that the cold air emanating from anyunit's smaller opening 12 does not vent directly into another unit'slarge opening 11.

FIG. 7 shows funnel units 10 of the bottle-shaped variety, eachcomprising a lip 16 of a large opening. In this iteration, thecylindrical lip presents a flat surface for the use of adhesive 40. Inthis iteration, the adhesive is used to attach the lip and thereby thefunnel unit directly to a vertical surface 80, here embodied as an innervehicle side panel. The funnel units are pictured as clear plastic withthe adhesive 40 visible through the body of the funnel.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Cooling device-   10 Funnel unit-   11 Large opening-   12 Small opening-   13 Barrel-   14 Neck-   15 Inner wall-   16 Large opening lip-   20 Base-   21 Base strut-   22 Flexible base connector-   23 Rigid base connector-   30 Spacer-   31 Air opening-   40 Adhesive-   50 Dark cover-   51 Cord loop-   52 Cord-   60 High heat capacitance units-   70 Packing material-   80 Vertical surface

The references recited herein are incorporated herein in their entirety,particularly as they relate to teaching the level of ordinary skill inthis art and for any disclosure necessary for the commoner understandingof the subject matter of the claimed invention. It will be clear to aperson of ordinary skill in the art that the above embodiments may bealtered or that insubstantial changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention isdetermined by the scope of the following claims and their equitableequivalents.

I claim:
 1. A cooling device, comprising one or more funnel units, each such funnel unit comprising a small opening and a large opening, wherein the large opening faces downward and the small opening faces upward, each funnel comprising adhesive on an external edge of the large opening, whereby each funnel unit is adhered to a vertical surface.
 2. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein the vertical surface provides an angle between 45 and 90 degrees relative to the ground and the angle of all attached funnel units matches the angle of the vertical surface.
 3. The cooling device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of high heat capacitance units attached to the inside face of the large opening.
 4. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein the funnel unit is bottle-shaped, comprising a small opening and a large opening attached to a cylindrical lip, wherein the large opening faces downward and the small opening faces upward, and each funnel unit lip is adhered to a vertical surface.
 5. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein each funnel unit is funnel-shaped and comprises a cylindrical lip attached to the large opening.
 6. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein each funnel unit is covered in dark material.
 7. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is from the group consisting of glue, epoxy, adhesive tape or other means, as well as hook-and-loop fabric.
 8. The cooling device of claim 1, wherein each funnel unit is adhered to a base, which base is thence adhered to the vertical surface.
 9. A cooling system comprising one or more funnel units, each either funnel-shaped or bottle-shaped and each comprising a small opening and a large opening, wherein the large opening faces downward and the small opening faces upward, wherein each of the one or more funnel units are adhered to a vertical surface within the interior of a vehicle.
 10. The cooling system of claim 9, further comprising wherein the one or more funnel units are adhered to a base with adhesive located at an external edge of the large opening, and such base is then adhered to the vertical surface.
 11. The cooling system of claim 10, wherein the funnel units are arranged in a pattern taken from the group consisting of side-to-side or a staggered grid.
 12. The cooling system of claim 9, further comprising one or more neoprene sleeves, wherein three to seven funnel units are inserted into each such sleeve and each sleeve comprises holes correlating to the diameters of each funnel unit's small opening and large opening.
 13. A method of cooling a vehicle interior using the cooling system of claim 9, wherein the one or more funnel units are each adhered to a vertical surface in the interior of a vehicle, and each such funnel unit continuously draws hot vehicle interior air through the large opening, cools such air inside the funnel unit, then exhales cooled air through the small opening. 